Written By:  Thomas Costello
Photography: Hailey Leonard, Micheline Veluvolu

 

A SEMIFINAL BETWEEN EXPERIENCE AND MOMENTUM
Clarkstown Soccer Club Meets Niagara 1812 in First Semifinal of East Region Playoffs

 

Friday in Central Islip, N.Y., the first of two East Region playoff matches kick-off. On one side, an expansion side with strong momentum. The other side? Only one of two playoff teams without a defeat or draw in the 2024 WPSL regular season. Niagara 1812 and Clarkstown Soccer Club is a matchup of new blood and a team hoping to add to a legacy it started in 2021.

On the western border of the state of New York, Niagara 1812 joined the WPSL this season on the foundation of a strong youth system that stretches from Buffalo across the Canadian border. Niagara created a space for young players to continue playing at a high level after moving out of youth soccer and into college and beyond.

However, a talent pool is only one part of the equation. 

Niagara began its first year in a competitive Lake Erie Division on the backfoot. In its first four matches, Niagara won only one match. In its first two matches, it was a 1-0 loss and 0-0 draw against a tough RNYFC side. 

“Continuity was the big thing with the team,” Carmine Provenzano, Niagara 1812 team owner, said. “It took a game or two, actually took about three. I mean even our games with Rochester were tight and we felt if we played them a bit later, we could get the better of them.”

Despite the slow start, something foreshadowed was a strong defense for the expansion club. Over eight regular season matches, Niagara gave up only eight goals – leading the division. That’s despite losing Niagara University defensive back Trinity Meinhart after only one match due to injury.

Head Coach Lucio Ianiero’s side built a strong defense that starts with a strong goalkeeper between the posts. Maddie Crosbie played seven of Niagara’s eight matches, including a clean sheet in the club’s first ever WPSL victory against Erie FC on May 25 – a 5-0 statement victory that was a sign of things to come.

That win was followed by three more wins in the club’s last four matches to go undefeated in the second half of the season. Included in the stretch was a hat trick performance from forward Adrianna Zumpano in a 3-2 win over the always difficult Cleveland Ambassadors. 

To end the season, Crosbie added her second clean sheet, also against Erie FC in a 0-0 draw. A pivotal point that put Niagara tied with RNYFC at the top of the standings. An achievement showing that not only was Niagara built for WPSL play, but shows a team that learns from its mistakes. 

Against Clarkstown though, Niagara 1812 will have its hands full, but Provenzano’s side is relying on its veteran-filled defensive backline that stepped up with the loss of one of its key players. 

“We're gonna dig in and we're gonna fight hard,” Provenzano said. “And score some goals, hopefully. That’s just the mentality of our team.”

For Clarkstown, it’s a team that’s shown its own mentality over three seasons of WPSL play. Over two seasons, Clarkstown hasn’t lost any of its 18 regular season matches –  amassing a goal differential of +54. This season, it went a step further than its 8-0-2 regular season record in 2023 with a dominating undefeated season and no opponent taking a point from Clarkstown.

Leading the team offensively is forward Kelly Brady. The Ole Miss star, who led the team in goals scored, shots, shots on goal, points and penalty kicks in her first season in the SEC did a lot of the same in the WPSL. 

Across seven matches, Brady scored 12 goals for Clarkstown, with five multi-goal games in seven appearances. Someone who will test the Niagara defensive line.

“She’s [Kelly Brady] so tenacious and has such a high motor for the entire 90 minutes,”  Danny Samimi, Clarkstown head coach, said. 

Brady isn’t alone. Stretching the entire field for the undefeated side is incoming UCLA freshman, and Team USA U19 forward Bella Winn. Despite the offensive title in Winn’s position, the forward provides defense for Clarkstown – a side that’s won by stopping other teams all season.

Clarkstown had four clean sheets in its eight victories and only once gave up more than one goal in a match. Combine that defensive work with a 3.4 goals per game average and the Northeastern Conference champions are a formidable opponent.

“We had some amazing players playing on defense and in goal,” Samimi said.  That, along with how well they all got along, made for a great season.”

For all the accolades earned by Clarkstown, there’s a blemish on the side’s record over the past two years. In the 2023 playoffs, Clarkstown struggled against a team who had the same dig in and fight feeling when the Rhode Island Rogues thwarted the regular season champion’s season in the 2023 East Region Final. The only time Rhode Island bested Clarkstown in the past two years.

The intra-conference battle ended 2-1, with Clarkstown heading home and Rhode Island moving on to the WPSL National Semifinal. For Clarkstown to win Saturday, it can’t look past a Niagara 1812 club that’s fought all season, especially heading into the playoffs.

Losing again isn’t an option for the 2024 edition of Clarkstown.

“[We’re] definitely motivated from last year losing to the Rogues,” Samimi said. “Looking to showcase our talent and how amazing our players are.”

Clarkstown and Niagara 1812 play in the East Region semifinal Saturday, July 13 at 4:00 p.m. ET. The match will air live on HUDL.